Tenant handbook - health and safety

Condensation and mould

Condensation is the most common cause of damp and forms when warm, moist air comes into contact with a cold surface like a window.

Left untreated, condensation can lead to mould growth on walls, ceilings and even furniture. It can also affect woodwork and plaster.

Condensation mainly occurs during the colder months, from September to April.

It doesn’t matter if the weather is wet or dry.

The amount of condensation in a home depends on:

• how much water vapour is produced
• how cold the property is
• how much ventilation there is in the house

Where does moisture in the home come from?

Our everyday activities add extra moisture to the air inside our homes.

As a landlord, we have a responsibility to fix the causes of damp and mould where it is a repair or defect, but we do ask our tenants to work with us in preventing the build-up of damp and mould by ventilating and heating homes.

Tips to reduce condensation

Reduce moisture:

• cook with pan lids on
• use an extractor fan in kitchens and bathrooms, keeping the doors closed during and after use
• dry clothes outside where possible or on a clothes airer in the bathroom with the door closed and a window slightly open to provide ventilation
• don’t hang clothes on radiators to dry
• if you use a tumble dryer, make sure it is vented properly or use a condenser dryer
• put cold water in first when you run a bath
• wipe surfaces to remove excess condensation Improve ventilation
• open windows regularly and use trickle vents, where fitted
• don’t completely block chimneys and flues – fit with an air vent
• move furniture away from walls so air can circulate
• keep cupboards and wardrobes clutter free

Heat your home:

• try to keep your home properly heated to a temperature of at least 18°C as it helps to provide a low heat all day
• avoid heaters that use bottled gas or paraffin as they produce lots of moisture and they are not allowed under your tenancy agreement

Dealing with mould:

• don’t disturb mould by vacuuming or brushing it
• wipe down affected areas with a fungicidal wash, following the instructions
• use a product that has a Health & Safety Executive (HSE) approval number
• use a fungicidal paint or wallpaper paste after treatment
• don’t use ordinary paint on the affected area
• dry-clean any clothes that have mould/mildew on them
• shampoo any carpets that have mould on them

If there are large areas of mould in a room, contact us to arrange a fungicidal wash.

We will then need to establish the cause of the mould to prevent it returning.

Other types of damp

(Black mould will rarely be seen in these situations.)

Rising damp:

• caused by water rising from the ground into the home
• the water gets through a broken damp proof course or the brickwork if a property was built without one
• only affects cellars and ground floor rooms

Penetrating damp:

• only found on external walls or, in the case of a roof leak, on ceilings
• appears because of a defect outside the home such as missing pointing to the brickwork, cracked rendering, broken/missing roof tiles or a build-up of soil/plants against a wall

Defective plumbing:

• caused by leaks from water and/or waste pipes
• affected area looks and feels damp 

It’s important we know if your home has condensation, damp or mould so contact our Housing Maintenance Team on 0800 111 4484.

If possible, send a photo to housingmaintenance@welhat.gov.uk.

If we are not able to easily diagnose the cause, the damp and mould is not improving, or it is at an advanced stage, we will arrange a visit from one of our surveyors to assess the problem.